WW1/WW2

Morpurgo, Michael. An Eagle in the Snow Upper KS2

Barney is leaving Coventry for Cornwall with his mum a�er their house has been destroyed in

the Blitz. However there’s no escape from Hitler and their train is a�acked by a Messerschmi�

forcing it to stop in a tunnel for safety. It’s pitch-black and Barney is scared of the dark. To

distract him, the other passenger in the carriage tells him about his best friend, Billy Byron,

famous in the First World War as the most decorated private soldier. The story is an

extraordinary one, we hear how Billy inadvertently changed the course of world history.

WW1 Morpurgo, Michael. Listen to the Moon Upper KS2

May, 1915. Alfie and his fisherman father find a girl on an uninhabited island in the Scillies –

injured, thirsty, lost… and with absolutely no memory of who she is, or how she came to be

there. She can say only one word: Lucy. Where has she come from? Is she a mermaid, the vic4m

of a German U-boat, or even – as some islanders suggest – a German spy…? WW1 is raging,

suspicion and fear are growing, and Alfie and Lucy are ever more under threat.

WW1 /

Le�ers

NEW

Robinson, Hilary. Song for Will & the Lost Gardeners of Heligan Lower & Upper KS2

When the First World War is declared on 4th August 1914, errand boy, Alfie, is disappointed that

he is too young to sign up. But his frustra4on turns to despair as he begins to understand the

brutal reality of ba�le. During the four year conflict, Alfie's exchange of le�ers with Heligan

stone mason, Fred Paynter, and the visits home of gardener, William Guy, paint a poignant

picture of life at the front. Beau4fully told and illustrated, this is a book for children and adults

to treasure.

WW1 / Power of

Reading text

Boyne, John. Stay where you are and then Leave. Upper KS2

A moving and upli�ing story of an ordinary boy's search for his missing father during the First

World War. The day the First World War broke out, Alfie Summerfield's father promised he

wouldn't go away to fight - but he broke that promise the following day. Four years later, Alfie

doesn't know where his father might be, other than that he's away on a special, secret mission.

Then, while shining shoes at King's Cross Sta4on, Alfie unexpectedly sees his father's name - on a

sheaf of papers belonging to a military doctor. Bewildered and confused, Alfie realises his father

is in a hospital close by - a hospital trea4ng soldiers with shell-shock. Alfie isn't sure what

shell-shock is, but is determined to rescue his father from this strange, unnerving place…

WW1/Power of

Reading Text

Hartne�, Sonya. Silver Donkey Upper KS2

Two young French girls help a Bri4sh soldier to escape to England during the First World War.

One morning in the woods of France, a blinded soldier, is found by two sisters, Coco and

Marcelle. In return for their kindness the soldier tells the sisters marvellous tales, connected to

the keepsake he carries in his pocket: a 4ny, silver donkey. As the days pass and they struggle to

help the soldier reach home, the sisters learn the truth behind the silver donkey and what the

precious object means : honesty, loyalty and courage.

Library Services for Schools

Serving Schools in Cumbria

Share a Story - Class Sets Upper KS2

Class sets comprise of 20 books and can be borrowed as part of your topic/literacy box entitlement. These titles can

sell out fast so order as soon as you can and have an alternative ready just in case you’ve missed out! We aim to

keep these collections refreshed as new and exciting titles become available but if you have any requests for other

titles you would like to borrow, then please get in touch.

WW2/Power

of Reading

Text

Innocen4, Roberto. Rose Blanche. Upper KS2

A young girl learns of the hardship and suffering of children in a local concentra4on camp and

begins to help them secretly. Rose Blanche observes changes going on around her that others

choose to ignore. She watches as the streets of her small German town fill with men dressed as

soldiers. One day she sees an ordinary li�le boy escaping from the back of the truck, only to be

captured by the mayor and rudely handed back to the soldiers. Rose follows the boy's truck

and in a desolate place, well out of town, she discovers many other children staring out from

behind electrified barbed wire. They are fearfully hungry and appeal for something to eat. Rose

ins4nc4vely understands the need for secrecy, even with her mother, in bringing the children

food. This is a story children are seldom told, though the adult world they will enter holds war

as central both historically and poli4cally.

WW2/Fantasy

NEW

Shepherd, Megan. Secret Horses of Briar Hill. Upper KS2

December 1941. Britain is at war. Emmaline has been evacuated away from the bombs to Briar

Hill Hospital in Shropshire. When she gets there she discovers a secret. It's not to be shared,

not to be told to anyone, even her friend Anna. But she'll tell you. This is Emmaline's secret –

there are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Briar Hill. Exquisitely illustrated by Levi

Pinfold, winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal, The Secret Horses of Briar Hill has all the

makings of a modern classic.

WW2/Modern

Classic/Power

of Reading

Text

Magorian, Michelle. Goodnight Mr Tom Upper KS2

A deprived and physically abused boy from London flourishes under the care of an old man

when he is evacuated to the countryside during World War II, but his new - found happiness is

sha�ered by a summons from his mother back in London...

WW2/Modern

Classic

NEW

Bawden, Nina. Carrie’s War Upper KS2

It’s war4me and Carrie and her li�le brother Nick have been evacuated from their London

home to the Welsh hills. In an unfamiliar place, among strangers, the children feel alone and

find li�le comfort with the family they are billeted with: Mr Evans, a bullying shopkeeper and

Aun4e Lou, his kind but 4mid sister. When Carrie and Nick visit Albert, another evacuee, they

are welcomed into Hepzibah Green's warm kitchen. Hepzibah is rumoured to be a witch, but

her cooking is delicious, her stories are enthralling and the children cannot keep away. With

Albert, Hepzibah and Mister Johnny, they begin to se�le into their new surroundings. But

before long, their loyal4es are tested: will they be persuaded to betray their new friends?

Stone Age/

Modern

Classic/

Adventure

King, Clive. S4g of the Dump. Upper KS2

When Barney falls down the cliff of the chalk pit he lands in what might be a rubbish dump but

the dump turns out to be the home of S4g, a cave-boy who turns what he finds to good use.

S4g and Barney have a series of wonderful adventures in Barney’s world from scaring Barney’s

enemies to chasing away Granny’s burglars. Barney then finds himself back in S4g’s world for a

special adventure set way back in the past.

Stone Age/

Fantasy/Power

of Reading

Text

Paver, Michelle. Wolf Brother Upper KS2

A young warrior teams up with a wolf cub and Renn of the Raven clan to defeat a demon that

has taken the form of a monstrous bear. Torak is alone... wounded, terrified, and on the run.

An outcast like his father, he has avoided all contact with the clans. But now his father lies

dead: slaughtered by a demon in the form of a great bear. Somehow, Torak must keep going.

His only ally is an orphaned wolf cub... Wolf Brother carries you back thousands of years to the

ancient darkness of the Forest: to a world steeped in natural magic and elemental terror, a

world in which trus4ng a friend means risking your life.

Vikings/

Fantasy

Cowell, Cressida. How to Train Your Dragon Upper KS2

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was an awesome sword-fighter, a dragon-whisperer and the

greatest Viking Hero who ever lived. But it wasn't always like that. In fact, in the beginning,

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was the most put upon Viking you'd ever seen. Not loud enough

to make himself heard at dinner with his father, Stoick the Vast; not hard enough to beat his

chief rival, Snotlout, at Bashyball, the number one school sport and CERTAINLY not stupid

enough to go into a cave full of dragons to find a pet...It's 4me for Hiccup to learn how to be a

Hero.

Vikings/

Mystery

NEW

Ramirez, Janina. Riddle of the Runes Upper KS2

Young Alva lives with her mother, uncle, baby brother and pet wolf Fenrir in the Viking

se�lement Kilsgard. The peace of their community is disturbed by the arrival of an English

monk. He says he’s on the trail of treasure – certain to catch Viking a�en4on – but has been

a�acked and a companion kidnapped. Alva is determined to inves4gate and soon on the trail.

Readers will pick up a real sense of Viking life as they compulsively turn the pages of this

gripping crime mystery/adventure.

Vikings/

Adventure

Jones, Terry. The Saga of Erik the Viking Lower & Upper KS2

Erik and the crew of the Golden Dragon set sail in search of adventure and to find out where

the sun goes at night. Li�le do they know that their courage, skill, strength and stamina will all

be tested to the extremes. They must win through against storms, against the dogfighters,

against giants and enchantments, face up to spirits and to trolls. Wonderfully illustrated

throughout by Michael Foreman.

Vikings/

Adventure/

NEW

Bradman, Tony. Viking Boy Upper KS2

A young Viking boy plans to take his revenge on the Wolf Men that raided his home village.

Gunnar is the son of a Viking chie�ain, living peacefully on his family steading with his mother,

father and their people - un4l they are raided by Skuli and his Wolf Men, who raze his home to

the ground and take his father's life. Gunnar swears an oath to avenge his father's death and

save his mother from Skuli - but first he must run to save himself.

Roman Britain/

Humour/

Animal Stories

NEW

Northfield, Gary. Julius Zebra. Bundlle with the Britons! Lower & Upper KS2

Julius and the other gladiators travel to Britannia when Emperor Hadrian promises them their

freedom if they perform in the gladitorial games there. Emperor Hadrian has one last favour to

ask of the gladiator animals before he will grant them their greatest wish - freedom. They must

go to the far-off and strange land of Britain to win over the crowds of his empire. But this will

be no happy-go-lucky holiday… Instead of buckets and spades, our stripy hero and his friends

will need all their powers and wits about them if they're going to survive their most wild and

rebellious opponents yet. Cram-packed with jokes and burs4ng with ac4on, this is a hilarious

romp and mad-cap introduc4on to Roman Britain.

Roman Britain

NEW

Bradman, Tony. Revolt Against the Romans. Upper KS2

A young Roman boy arrives on the island of Britannia to meet his father and encounters a

barbarian chief. Marcus is excited about travelling to Britannia, the island at the edge of the

world. But the Britons are savages who ta�oo themselves and take the heads of their enemies

in ba�le. They won't bow down to the rule of Rome. As Marcus travels to meet his father he

meets a barbarian chief instead and his des4ny is changed forever, along with that of Britannia.

Tudors/Power

of Reading

Text

Doherty, Berlie. Treason Upper KS2

When Will Gaveston’s father is accused of treason and thrown into Newgate Prison, Will has to

go into hiding in the back streets of London. He is befriended by a poor boy, Nick Drew, and

together they brave imprisonment and death as they try to gain pardon for Will's father.

Ancient Egypt/

Myths &

legends/Comic

Strip format

Williams, Marcia. Tales of Gods and Pharaohs. Upper KS2

Full of mystery and adventure, the stories of the Egyp4an pharaohs and their ancient gods are

steeped in thousands of years of history. From the crea4on myth to the curse of Tutankhamen

and the fall of Cleopatra, Marcia Williams' classic comic strip retellings bring new life to the

myths and wonders of this ancient civiliza4on.

Ancient Egypt/

Humour

NEW

Northfield, Gary. Entangled with the Egyp4ans Lower & Upper KS2

Julius finds himself figh4ng for his life when the Egyp4ans realise he is not actually a god.

A�er being shipwrecked on the shores of Egypt and mistaken for a Horse God, Julius can't

believe his luck! Soon he and his bedraggled friends will be living it up in the city of

Alexandria; preened and pampered like gods. Then a fancy boat procession will take them

down the River Nile to Giza where, of course, a lavish party will be thrown in Julius's honour

- as well as geIng the obligatory tour of the Pyramids. BUT it is this very tour that seems to

signal the end to their glorious fortunes in Egypt. On a visit to the Tomb of Cleopatra, Felix

is unable to resist a rather lovely looking treasure for his rock collec4on... He pockets the

jewel and immediately a curse falls upon the group. And so the ridiculous adventure begins

where Julius fights for his life as the Egyp4ans come to unravel the truth and realise that he

is not quite what they thought he was...

Ancient Egypt/

Mystery

NEW

Carroll, Emma. Secrets of the Sun King Upper KS2

A discovery from ancient Egypt . . .A cursed package . . .The untold story of a young

pharaoh . . .

When Lilian Kaye finds a parcel on her grandad's doorstep, she is shocked to see who sent

it: a famous Egyptologist, found dead that very morning, according to every newspaper in

England! The mysterious package holds the key to a story . . . about a king whose tomb

archaeologists are desperately hun4ng for. Lil and her friends must embark on an

incredible journey - to return the package to its res4ng place, to protect those they love,

and to break the deadly pharaoh's curse . . .

Ancient Egypt/

Adventure

NEW

Moss, Helen. The Phoenix Code Upper KS2

A thrilling mystery story which crackles with tension as the secrets of a tomb that has

closed for 3000 is about to be opened. The Benben Stone looks just like a black rectangular

stone but its discovery is one of the most important finds. The stone is thought to have

special proper4es; it can grant eternal life and hidden within it there is secret magic. Ryan,

the son of the top journalist covering the opening, is thrilled to be at the opening. But Ryan

has no idea just how wrong things can go! Helped by Cleo McNeil, daughter of the lead ar-

chaeologist, Ryan finds himself caught up in a dangerous race to beat their enemies to solv-

ing the Phoenix Code.

Anglo-Saxons/

Myths &

Legends

Morpurgo, Michael. Beowulf. Upper KS2

In fi�h-century Denmark, a murderous monster stalks the night, and only the great prince of the

Geats has the strength and courage to defeat him. Beowulf's terrifying quest to destroy Grendel,

the foul fiend, a hideous sea-hag and a monstrous fire-dragon is the oldest surviving epic in

Bri4sh literature.

Anglo Saxons/

Adventure

NEW

Bradman, Tony. Anglo-Saxon Boy Upper KS2

Magnus is the son of Harold Godwinson, lord of the Southern Saxons and ruthlessly ambi4ous

claimant to the throne of England. Overnight, Magnus finds himself cast centre-stage in the

blood-soaked family feud that led to one of history's most famous ba�les. This is the family

tragedy behind 1066: live it with Magnus, as the wolves of history close in on his Anglo-Saxon

boyhood.

Adventure/

Ancient China

Pullman, Philip. The Firework-Maker’s Daughter Lower & Upper KS2

Story set in Ancient China. What Lila wants to be more than anything else in the world is . . . a

Firework-Maker! But firework-making is not just about being able to make Crackle-Dragons and

Golden Sneezes. There is also one special secret: every Firework-Maker must make a perilous

journey to face the terrifying Fire-Fiend! Not knowing that she needs special protec4on to

survive the Fire-Fiend's flames, Lila sets off alone. Her friends, Chulak and Hamlet - the King's

white elephant - race a�er her. But can they possibly reach her in 4me?

Adventure/

Myths &

Legends/

Humour

Evans, Maz. Who let the Gods out? Upper KS2

Elliot's mum is ill and his home is under threat, but a shoo4ng star crashes to earth and changes

his life forever. The star is Virgo - a young Zodiac goddess on a mission. But the pair accidentally

release Thanatos, a wicked death daemon imprisoned beneath Stonehenge, and must then turn

to the old Olympian gods for help. A�er centuries of cushy re4rement on earth, are Zeus and his

crew up to the task of saving the world - and solving Elliot's problems too?

Ancient

Greeks/Myths

& Legends

NEW

Kimmell, E. King Midas and Other Greek Myths Upper KS2

Walk among the gods and goddesses, men and monsters, in this volume of classic Greek myths.

Here are twelve of the most beloved legends of Greek mythology, from Pandora and her dread-

ed box to Icarus with his wings of wax, and, of course, that greedy, gold-fingered King Midas.

Vibrant art adds a fresh twist to this collec4on, giving today's readers their own version of these

4meless tales.

Ancient

Greeks/Myths

& Legends/

Power of

Reading Text

Lupton, Hugh. The Adventures of Odysseus Upper KS2

Recounts the adventures of Odysseus from Greek mythology. A�er ten long years, the Trojan

War has finally ended, and it is 4me for the hero Odysseus to set sail for his homeland. But what

Odysseus thinks is the end of his long absence is truly only the beginning…

Victorians/

Power of

Reading text

Doherty, Berlie. Street Child Upper KS2

Set in Victorian London a young boy struggles to find a happy life for himself outside the work-

house. When his mother dies, Jim is all alone in the workhouse and is desperate to escape. But

London in the 1860's is a dangerous and lonely place for a small boy and life is a constant ba�le

for survival. Just when Jim finds some friends, he is snatched away and is made to work for the

remorselessly cruel Grimy Nicks, constantly guarded by his vicious dog, Snipe. Will Jim ever be

free? Based on the true story of a boy who inspired Dr Barnardo.

Victorians

NEW

Doherty, Berlie. Far From Home: The Sisters of Street Child Upper KS2

A companion novel set in Victorian England which tells the story of Lizzie and Emily, the two

sisters of Jim Jarvis, the main character in Doherty's novel, "Street Child". No previous

knowledge of Street Child required.

Victorians/

Classic

NEW

Williams, Marcia. Oliver Twist and other great Dickens stories.Lower & Upper KS2

Retellings in a lively comic strip style of 5 Dickens most popular stories. Oliver Twist, Great

Expecta4ons, Christmas Carol, Tale of Two Ci4es and David Copperfield.

Titanic/

Animal/

Adventure/

Edwardian

Morpurgo, Michael. Kaspar, Prince of Cats. Upper and lower KS2

A wonderfully emo4onal but heart-warming tale from the pen of one of the foremost writers

for children. Brilliantly interwoven in historical fact at the 4me of the sinking of the Titanic is the

story of Kaspar the Savoy cat, who we also discover is a survivor of the sinking of the Titanic. The

story is u�erly compelling and brought to life s4ll further by some really dreamy illustra4ons by

Michael Foreman.

Biography/

Adventure/

Antarc4c/

Power of

Reading Text

Grill, William. Shackleton’s Journey. Upper KS2

An illustrated re-telling of Ernest Shackleton's landmark expedi4on crossing the Antarc4c from

one pole to the other. In the last days of the Heroic Age of Explora4on, Ernest Shackleton

dreamed of crossing the frozen heart of Antarc4ca, a place of ferocious seas, uncharted

mountains and bone-chilling cold. But when his ship, the Endurance, became trapped in the

deadly grip of the ice, Shackleton's dreams were sha�ered.

Biography/

Adventure/

Antarc4c/

Power of

Reading Text

Hooper, Meridith. Ice Trap! Lower & Upper KS2

An account of how Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men survive when his ship Endurance becomes

stranded in the Antarc4c. Shackleton wanted to be the first to walk across the Antarc4c

con4nent. Now he and his 27 men are stranded on the ice floes in the middle of the frozen

ocean. Courageously they begin planning their escape. No one can rescue them. They will have to

save themselves.

Animals/

Modern

Classic/Power

of Reading

Text

Byars, Betsy. The Midnight Fox. Upper KS2

Capturing a boy’s fascina4on with a fox he befriends when he is sent away to stay on his aunt’s

farm, it sensi4vely depicts a journey of discovery for a lonely boy. Tom is sure he will hate every-

thing about being on the farm but from the moment he first sees the beau4ful black fox he is

cap4vated by her. Finding out about the fox brings him to take a greater interest in the farm.

Suddenly he sees that it is a place full of excitement and opportuni4es. When his uncle goes a�er

the fox, Tom knows he has to get involved. Can he save his new friend?

Animal Lewis, Gill. Sky Hawk. Upper KS2

Shortlisted for the 2012 Branford Boase Award for outstanding Debut novel. Sky Hawk is an

intense and touching story of how protec4ng a rare bird forges a deep and special friendship

between two children. The osprey is Iona’s secret but she trusts Callum to keep it and together

the two of them do all they can to keep the bird safe. The pact they make will change lives

forever.

Animal/

Dystopia/

Fantasy/Power

of Reading

Text

Torday, Piers. The Last Wild. Upper KS2

In a world where animals no longer exist, twelve-year-old Kester Jaynes some4mes feels like he

hardly exists either. Locked away in a home for troubled children, he's told there's something

wrong with him. So when he meets a flock of talking pigeons and a bossy cockroach, Kester

thinks he's finally gone a bit mad. But the animals have something to say. The pigeons fly Kester

to a wild place where the last creatures in the land have survived. A wise stag needs Kester's

help, and together they must embark on a great journey, joined along the way by an over-

enthusias4c wolf-cub, a spoilt show-cat, a dancing harvest mouse and a stubborn girl named

Polly.

Animal/Classic Kipling, Rudyard. The Jungle Book. Upper KS2

The stories tell of Mowgli’s upbringing among the wolves; his lessons in the Law of the Jungle

from Baloo the bear, Bagheera the black panther and Kaa the python; his kidnap by the Monkey

People and his clash with the evil 4ger, Shere Khan. This is an abridged illustrated version.

Rainforests/

Conserva4on/

Animals

NEW

Morpurgo, Michael. Running Wild Upper KS2

A boy on holiday in Asia is saved from a tsunami by an elephant and encounters hunters who are

killing 4gers and orangutans and destroying the jungle to produce palm oil.

Animal/Classic Grahame , Kenneth. Wind in the Willows. Upper KS2

This 4meless tale has never been out of print and remains one of the best loved children’s 4tles

in English literature. Grahame’s wonderful imagina4on and quiet humour con4nue to charm

children and adults alike and this abridged edi4on is beau4fully complemented by some

stunning illustra4ons.

Animal/Power

of Reading

Text

Pennypacker, Sara. Pax Upper KS2

A twelve year old boy journeys to find his pet fox that his father made him abandon in the

woods. Pax and Peter have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a cub. But one

day the unimaginable happens: Peter's dad enlists in the military and makes him return his fox

to the wild. At his grandfather's house three hundred miles away from home, Peter knows he

isn't where he should be - with Pax. Despite the encroaching war, he sets out to find his fox.

Meanwhile, Pax, steadfastly wai4ng for his boy, embarks on an adventure of his own.

Fantasy/

Animal/Power

of Reading

Text

Said, SF. Varjak Paw. Lower & Upper KS2

A cat learns about an ancient mar4al art from a mysterious ancestor when he is forced out of

his home and made to survive in the city. Mesopotamian Blue cat Varjak Paw has never been

outside before, but Varjak is forced out into the city when the sinister gentleman and his two

menacing cats take over his home. With help from a mys4cal ancestor, he manages to over-

come the challenges of survival, and to save his family. Varjak Paw is a Mesopotamian Blue

ki�en. He lives high up in an old house on a hill. He's never le� home, un4l his grandfather tells

him about the Way - a secret mar4al art for cats. Now Varjak must use the Way to survive in a

city full of dangerous dogs, cat gangs and strangest of all the mysterious vanishings.

Fantasy/

Imaginary

Worlds/

Modern Classic

Lewis, C.S. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Upper KS2

Four adventurous siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie — step through a

wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the

power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan,

signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice.

Fantasy/Power

of Reading

Text

Pullman, Philip. Clockwork. Upper KS2

Tick, tock, 4ck, tock! Some stories are like that. Once you've wound them up, nothing will stop

them... A tormented appren4ce clock-maker, a deadly mechanical knight in armour - and the

sinister Dr Kalmenius, who some say is the devil… Wind up these characters, fit them into a

story on a cold winter's evening, with snow swirling down, and suddenly life and the story

begin to merge in a peculiarly macabre - and unstoppable - way. Almost like clockwork…

Imaginary

Worlds

Dahl, Roald. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Lower & Upper KS2

A book that requires no introduc4on. Charlie Bucket loves chocolate. And Mr Willy Wonka, the

most wondrous inventor in the world, is opening the gates of his amazing chocolate factory to

five lucky children. It's the prize of a life4me! Gobstoppers, wriggle sweets and a river of

melted chocolate delight await - Charlie needs just one Golden Ticket and these delicious

treats could all be his.

Imaginary

Worlds

Dahl, Roald. The BFG. Lower and Upper KS2

This is a delighSul, funny and exci4ng story about a special friendship between two people

from different worlds – a giant and a child. As the story develops it shows how trust and love

develops between them. It also shows that bullying must not be tolerated and Dahl is at his

best here by eventually ensuring the big bad giants get their comeuppance whilst the big

friendly giant wins the day alongside the li�le girl Sophie.

Fantasy/

Power of

Reading

Text

Almond, David. Skellig Upper KS2

A boy feels neglected when his baby sister is ill, but he makes two new friends - a confident home-

educated neighbour and a strange creature that lives in the shed. When a move to a new house

coincides with his baby sister's illness, Michael's world seems suddenly lonely and uncertain. Then,

one Sunday a�ernoon, he stumbles into the old, ramshackle garage of his new home, and finds

something magical. A strange creature - part owl, part angel, a being who needs Michael's help if he

is to survive. With his new friend Mina, Michael nourishes Skellig back to health, while his baby

sister languishes in the hospital. But Skellig is far more than he at first appears, and as he helps

Michael breathe life into his 4ny sister, Michael's world changes for ever …

Fantasy/

Power of

Reading

Text

Tan, Shaun (illustrator). The Viewer. Upper KS2

A boy finds a strange mechanical toy which shows him scenes of disasters, devasta4on and war

throughout history through to the planet's destruc4on by man in the future. For Tristan, the city

dump was a treasure trove, full of mystery. He would take each sad and broken and dirty thing

apart to see how each could be made to 4ck or whirr or ring. Then he found the box. It was filled

with lenses, polished glass, microscope, monocle, magnifying glass and a viewmaster. What Tristan

saw through the dark orbs as he clicked the viewer was like nothing he had seen before. He clicked

more slowly, then crept into bed, trembling…

Fantasy/

Power of

reading

Text

Almond, David. Mouse Bird Snake Wolf. Lower & Upper KS2

Three children live in a world which lazy gods haven't finished yet, so go about crea4ng their own

creatures to fill the empty spaces. The gods have created a world - they've built mountains, a sea

and a sky - and now their days are filled with long naps in the clouds (and tea and cake). That's un4l

Harry, Sue and li�le Ben begin to fill the gaps of the world: with a mousy thing, a chirpy thing and a

twisty legless thing. As the children's ideas take shape, the power of their visions proves to be

greater than they, or the gods, could ever have imagined.

Fantasy/

Power of

Reading

Text

Harrold, A.F. The Song from Somewhere Else. Upper KS2

Award-winning A.F. Harrold blends reality and imagina4on in a moving and thought-provoking story

about friendship, loneliness and being brave when things are difficult. Bullied at school and

unsupported at home, Frank makes an unusual friendship with Nick, the weird boy in her class who

everyone else shuns. A�er Nick rescues Frank from the bullies, she goes round to his house where

she discovers something very unusual. What should Frank believe about what she sees? And should

she keep Nick’s secret? Levi Penfold’s illustra4ons add to the illusory feel of this story that tests

imagina4on and belief and leaves the reader wondering.

Imaginary

Worlds/

Adven-

ture/

Family

Boyce, Frank Co�rell. Sputnick’s Guide to Life on Earth Upper KS2

Frank Co�rell Boyce takes the sad story of Laika, the first living creature to orbit Earth, and uses it

as inspira4on for a story about the importance of home. It’s both brilliantly funny and

extraordinarily moving. Prez is living with a temporary foster family when he opens the door to

Sputnik. Prez sees an alien – in a kilt – everyone else sees a dog. Over the course of the summer

Prez and Sputnik have some amazing adventures and break a lot of laws, including some of the laws

of physics, but in the process they save the world, and reunite Prez with his grandfather. As wild as

a cartoon strip, this wonderful story pinpoints all the best things about life on Earth.

Fantasy/

Adven-

ture/Polar

Region

NEW

Bell, Alan. Polar Bear Explorers’ Club Upper KS2

When Stella and three other junior explorers get separated from their expedi4on can they cross the

frozen wilderness and live to tell the tale? Join Stella Starflake Pearl and her three fellow explorers

as they trek across the snowy Icelands and come face-to-face with frost fairies, snow queens, out-

law hideouts, unicorns, pygmy dinosaurs and carnivorous cabbages.

Adventure/

Survival/

Morpurgo, Michael Kensuke’s Kingdom. Upper KS2

I heard the wind above me in the sails. I remember thinking, this is silly, you haven't got your safe-

ty harness on, you haven't got your lifejacket on. You shouldn't be doing this ...I was in the cold of

the sea before I could even open my mouth to scream.' Washed up on an island in the Pacific,

Michael struggles to survive on his own. With no food and no water, he curls up to die. When he

wakes, there is a plate beside him of fish, of fruit, and a bowl of fresh water. He is not alone …

Adventure/

Pirates/

Classic

NEW

Stevenson, Robert Louis. Treasure Island Upper KS2

An abridged retelling of the classic story about a boy who joins a pirate crew on the search for

buried treasure. Part of the Real Reads series which bring great books to a wider readership, while

always honouring the context and structure of the original.

Adventure/

Power of

Reading

text

Rundell, Katherine. RooCoppers. Upper KS2

A girl runs away with her guardian to Paris in search of her mother who she ini4ally thought died

in the shipwreck that she was rescued from as a baby. My mother is s4ll alive, and she is going to

come for me one day. True, there were no other recorded female survivors from the shipwreck

which le� baby Sophie floa4ng in the English Channel in a cello case, but Sophie remembers see-

ing her mother wave for help. Her guardian tells her it is almost impossible that her mother is s4ll

alive, but that means s4ll possible. You should never ignore a possible. So when the Welfare Agen-

cy writes to her guardian threatening to send Sophie to an orphanage, she takes ma�ers into her

own hands and flees to Paris to look for her mother, star4ng with the only clue she has - the ad-

dress of the cello maker. Evading the French authori4es, she meets Ma�eo and his network of

roo�oppers - urchins who live in the sky. Together they scour the city for Sophie's mother before

she is caught and sent back to London, and most importantly before she loses hope.

Adventure/

Power of

Reading

Text

Sedgwick, Marcus. Floodland Upper KS2

A girl survives on an island a�er a catastrophic flood separates her from her family. Imagine

that England is covered by water, and Norwich is an island...Zoë, le� behind in the confusion

when her parents escaped, survives there as best she can. Alone and desperate among marauding

gangs, she manages to dig a boat out of the mud and gets away to Eels Island. But Eels Island,

whose raggle-taggle inhabitants are dominated by the strange boy Dooby, is full of danger too.

The belief that she will one day find her parents spurs Zoë on to a drama4c escape.

Humour/

Family/

Adventure

Walliams, David. Gangsta Granny Upper KS2

Ben’s granny is really boring; staying with her is a nightmare of ea4ng cabbage, playing Scrabble

and being treated like a baby. But then he discovers something rather AMAZING about his dull old

gran; she has a biscuit 4n full of jewellery including the biggest and most sparkling diamond he

has ever seen. Life with a gangsta gran is quite a different thing and soon Ben is off on a wild and

hilarious adventure.

Humour/

Adventure/

NEW

Walliams, David. Demon Den4st Upper KS2

A boy finds himself pi�ed against an evil den4st who wants to steal all the children's teeth.

Darkness has come to the town. Strange things were happening in the dead of night. Children

would put a tooth under their pillow for the tooth fairy, but in the morning they would wake up to

find... a dead slug; a live spider; hundreds of earwigs creeping and crawling beneath their pillow.

Evil was at work. But who or what was behind it?

Humour/Family/

Adventure/

Superheroes

NEW

Solomons, David. My Brother is a Superhero. Upper KS2

Luke is a comic-reading super-hero expert, but he’s gone to the toilet at the crucial

moment when an alien arrives in his tree-house and it’s his never-read-a-comic-in-his-life

brother Zach who gets superpowers and instruc4ons to save the universe – life couldn’t

get any unfairer. But even super-heroes need back up, and when Zach is kidnapped, it falls

to Luke to save his brother and the world. This is an excellent adventure story with real

heart and with humour that comes from the characters as well as the situa4on.

Adventure/

Power of Read-

ing text

Dowd, Siobhan. London Eye Mystery. Upper KS2

Two children inves4gate when their cousin goes missing. 11.32am. Ted and his sister Kat

watch their cousin Salim get on board the London Eye. The pod rises from the ground, high

above the city. 12.02pm. The pod lands and the doors open. Everyone exits - everyone but

Salim. Has he spontaneously combusted? (Ted's theory.) Has he been kidnapped? (Aunt

Gloria's theory.) Is he even s4ll alive? (The family's unspoken fear.) Even the police are

baffled - so it's up to Ted, whose brain runs on its own unique opera4ng system, to solve

this mystery and find Salim. Teaming up with Kat, Ted follows a trail of clues across London

- while 4me 4cks dangerously by…

Adventure/

Mystery/

NEW

Sachar, Louis. Holes. Upper KS2

Sent by mistake to a juvenile correc4on centre, a teen boy discovers the wardens are using

the boys as manual labour to find a buried treasure. Stanley Yelnats' family has a history of

bad luck, so when a miscarriage of jus4ce sends him to Camp Green Lake Juvenile Deten-

4on Centre (which isn't green and doesn't have a lake) he is not surprised. Every day he

and the other inmates are told to dig a hole, five foot wide by five foot deep, repor4ng

anything they find. The evil warden claims that it is character building, but this is a lie and

Stanley must dig up the truth.

Adventure/

Rainforests

Rundell, Katherine. The Explorer Upper

KS2 Four children endeavour to survive a�er the light aircra� they were aboard crashes in

the heart of the Amazon jungle. From his seat in the 4ny aeroplane, Fred watches as the

mysteries of the Amazon jungle pass by below him. He has always dreamed of becoming

an explorer, of making history and of reading his name amongst the lists of great discover-

ies. If only he could land and look about him.

As the plane crashes into the canopy, Fred is suddenly le� without a choice. He and the

three other children may be alive, but the jungle is a vast, untamed place. With no hope of

rescue, the chance of geIng home feels impossibly small. Except, it seems, someone has

been there before them...

Adventure/

Rainforests/

Power of

Reading Text

Ibbotson, Eva. Journey to the River Sea Upper KS2

The story of a girl's emigra4on to South America to meet her strange family and adven-

tures on the Amazon river. It is 1910 and Maia, tragically orphaned at thirteen, has been

sent from England to start a new life with distant rela4ves in Manaus, hundreds of miles

up the Amazon. She is accompanied by an eccentric and mysterious governess who has

secret reasons of her own for making the journey. Both soon discover an exo4c world

burs4ng with new experiences in this highly colourful, joyous adventure.

Humour/

Friendship

Walliams, David. Billionaire Boy Upper KS2

Shortlisted for the pres4gious Sheffield Children's Book Award 2011. Hugely entertaining,

this cap4va4ng story is also thought provoking about the perils of having too much money.

Joe Spud is the richest twelve-year-old in the world; he has everything his heart desires –

except friends and happiness. As one disaster follows another, Joe and his father both

learn the hard way what really ma�ers.

Space Travel/

Humour/Power

of Reading Text

Boyce, Frank Co�rell. Cosmic Upper KS2

An 11 year old pretends to be a father in order to join a space mission. Liam is too big for his

boots, his football strip, and his school blazer. But being super-sized height-wise has its ad-

vantages: he's the only eleven-year-old to ever ride the G-force defying Cosmic rollercoaster or

be offered the chance to drive a Porsche. Long-legged Liam makes a giant leap for boy-kind by

compe4ng with a group of adults for the chance to go into space. Is Liam the best boy for the

job? Some4mes being big isn't all about being a grown-up.

Modern Classic/

Ghost story/

Timeslip/

Graphic format/

Power of

Reading Text

Edith. Tom’s Midnight Garden Upper KS2

Edith’s graphic novel version captures how Tom moves from frustra4on and disappointment at

being cooped up in a flat with his aunt and uncle to delight when his night 4me adventures take

him into the magical garden that once belonged to the house. Invisible to all but Ha�y, a lonely

li�le girl, Tom enjoys the most wonderful adventures with her including ska4ng through the

night to Ely. The rich imagina4on of the original is portrayed in a new and s4mula4ng way.

Graphic Novel version of Philippa Peirce’s original.

Africa/Family/

Aspira4ons

NEW

Laird, Elizabeth. The Fastest Boy in the World. Lower and Upper KS2

In a beau4fully told story packed with emo4on and ac4on, Elizabeth Laird tells how eleven-

year- old Solomon turns his dreams of becoming an Interna4onal runner into reality. Solomon

runs everywhere – and always especially fast to school. He knows he is good and is convinced

that he could join the roster of the great Ethiopian runners but he also knows that growing up

in a small village, he’ll never have the chance to train as an elite athlete. When Solomon’s

grandfather insists that he accompanies him on a trip to Addis Ababa, everything in his life

changes. Solomon’s story is funny, touching and inspiring.

Adventure/

Family/

Mul4cultural

Davies, Nicola. Rubbish Town Hero. Upper KS2 Chipo

and his li�le sister Gentle live on Papa Fudu's dumpsite in Rubbish Town, searching for valuable

things amongst the rubbish to try to stay alive. Life isn't easy - luckily, Chipo has spirit, courage

and lots of imagina4on! And now, he has a plan...But when Chipo and Gentle are caught with

something precious that Papa Fudu wants for himself, they have to think quick, move fast. Sud-

denly they're on the run...Along with their friend Dede and their loyal dog, Mouse, Chipo and

Gentle set off on a dangerous and exci4ng journey to find a safe place to call home - mee4ng a

cast of extraordinary characters along the way.

Emmigra4on/

Immigra4on/

Refugees

NEW

Lewis, Gill. Story Like the Wind Upper KS2 A

small group of refugees is crowded onto a boat on the sea. They share their stories as the boat

travels towards the dream of safety and freedom. One boy, Rami, has brought his violin, and his

story of how the violin was invented, and of a stallion that could run like the wind, weaves

through the other stories, bringing them all together into a celebra4on of hope and of the pow-

er of music and story.

Homelessness/

Power of

Reading Text

Hathorn, Libby. Way Home. Upper KS2

This is the dangerous inner city at night and we travel with Shane as he takes home a stray

ki�en, running terrified from a gang, leaping through screaming traffic, escaping a fierce dog

and finally arriving 'home'.

Mystery/

Family/Mental

Health

NEW

Thompson, Lisa. The Goldfish Boy Upper KS2

Trapped indoors by his obsessive fears of germs and much else Ma�hew watches his

neighbours’ lives and details their every move. That’s why he’s the person who knows

when toddler Teddy was last seen in his grandfather’s garden. When Teddy goes missing is

it Ma�hew who holds the answer that everyone is seeking? Alongside the detec4ve drama

in the background, Lisa Thompson is also insighSul about Ma�hew’s crippling anxie4es

and how they resolve.

Bullying/Power

of Reading Text

Almond, David. The Savage Upper KS2

Imagine you wrote a story and that story came true. This is exactly what happens to Blue

Baker when he writes about a savage living alone in the woods near his home. A�er his

dad's death, Blue finds comfort in dreaming of a wild kid who survives on a diet of berries

and the occasional hapless passer-by. But when the savage pays a night-4me visit to the

local bully, boundaries become blurred and Blue begins to wonder where he ends and the

savage begins.

School Stories/

Power of

Reading Text

Sachar, Louis. There’s a Boy in the Girls Bathroom Upper KS2

A boy with behavioural problems is given a second chance a�er a new boy befriends him.

"Give me a dollar or I'll spit on you." Meet Bradley Chalkers. He's the oldest child in the

class. He tells ENORMOUS lies. He picks fights with girls. The teachers say he has 'serious

behaviour problems'. And no one likes him...Except Carla, the new school counsellor.

She thinks Bradley is sensi4ve and generous, and she even enjoys his far-fetched stories.

Carla knows that Bradley could change, if only he weren't afraid to try. Some4mes the

hardest thing in the world is believing in yourself. A heart-warming story of isola4on,

bravery and acceptance from the bestselling author of "Holes," Louis Sachar.

Bullying/School

Stories/Power

of Reading Text

Palacio, P.J. Wonder Upper KS2

A 10-year-old boy born with a facial abnormality a�empts mainstream school for the first

4me. Auggie wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things - ea4ng ice

cream, playing on his Xbox. He feels ordinary - inside. But ordinary kids don't make other

ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids aren't stared at wherever

they go. Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his

parents his whole life. Now, for the first 4me, he's being sent to a real school. All he wants

is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, under-

neath it all?

Fairy Tale/

Power of

Reading Text

Duffy, Carol Ann. The Princess Blankets Lower & Upper

KS2 A new fairy tale of a princess who is always cold un4l she falls in love. A princess

cannot get warm, no ma�er what is done for her. A stranger with cold eyes brings her the

earth's blanket, the forest's blanket, the ocean's blanket and more, but nothing can warm

the cold princess.

Then, one day, a musician wanders into the land, and her heart melts with warmth and

love.

Narra4ve

Poem/Classic/

Power of

Reading Text

Noyes, Alfred. The Highwayman Upper KS2

In Alfred Noyes's thrilling poem, charged with drama and tension, we ride with the high-

wayman and recoil from the terrible fate that befalls him and his sweetheart Bess, the

landlord's daughter.

Diaries/

Autobiography/

WW2

Diary of Anne Frank. (Abridged) Upper KS2

Sensi4vely edited and with a connec4ng commentary by the editor, the abridged edi4on of The

Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank gives readers their first introduc4on to the extraordinary

diary of an ordinary girl who has long become a household name. There are beau4ful line

drawings, family photographs, and an A�erword to explain why the Diary ends so abruptly.

Shakespeare

NEW

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth—abridged text version Upper KS2

Abridged version of this classic text in the Oxford Treetops series.

Shakespeare Shakespeare, William. Macbeth—Graphic Novel Upper KS2

The epic tale of Macbeth retold in graphic-novel format. Macbeth and Banquo are ScoIsh

generals returning home from a victorious war campaign. Their journey is interrupted when

three strange witches come upon them and predict their futures. They claim that Macbeth will

one day become King of Scotland! Macbeth is s4rred by the prophesy. With the help of his

scheming wife, he sets into mo4on a sinister plan that will paint bloody strokes across the

en4re landscape of Scotland.

Shakespeare Williams, Marcia. Mr William Shakespeare’s Plays. Upper KS2

Seven classic Shakespeare plays presented in an accessible comic strip format. Romeo and

Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Winter’s Tale and the

Tempest are all brought vividly to life.

* Reviews taken from Lovereading4kids website

Library Services for Schools, Botchergate, Carlisle, CA1 1RZ

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